‘Heeramandi’ was released in the month of May but the discussions about it are still going on. Sharmin Segal, who played the role of Alamzeb in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s show, received mixed reactions from the audience. A scene of her and Taha Shah is being discussed and is getting different reactions from the fans. In an exclusive conversation with India Today, Sharmin told how she understood the scene and does not want to justify it.

The controversial scene comes in episode 5 when Alamzeb runs away to meet Tajdar (Taha) and is rejected because he is from a prostitute family. While he breaks her heart, Alamzeb continues to look at her lovingly, smiling, leaving fans shocked. Explaining how she perceived the scene, Sharmin told IndiaToday.in, “‘Oh, is it because I smile in that scene?’ For me, Alamzeb was laughing at herself because she ran away from her home for this. It was like a sad joke that one plays on oneself. It was dark humour in my mind.”

She further added, “Alamzeb’s eyes are filled with tears, he is sad. It is very different. I am not blaming the medium, but everyone saw it on the small screen, so (details are missed). His eyes are filled with tears, he is moist, and there is a smile on his face because of the situation, it is like smiling at his misfortune.”

Sharmin explained, “Alam smiled at her misfortune, not at the fact that she rejected him and she laughed. Human beings have different ways of reacting to different things. Sometimes, when you are frustrated, you start laughing at yourself because you think, ‘How did I end up here?’ Most people always associate a smile with happiness, but a smile comes out in the strangest of circumstances, and it usually comes out when you are trying to hide some other emotion. I just interpreted it as her laughing at herself or smiling at her misfortune. So, that’s how I interpreted the scene, and I hope it’s clear now.”

The actor further added, “People interpret things the way they want to. That’s why I say it’s the creative person’s job to create, and the audience will interpret it the way they feel. They might feel that maybe I was wrong in choosing that idea, that emotion, but collectively, the director and I decided to go ahead with that interpretation of that situation and put it in front of the audience. Now, the feedback on that, I very much welcome and am ready for it. I very much agree with the feedback and criticism on that. It’s constructive criticism.”

However, Sharmin reiterated that he hopes he won’t have to justify his interpretation. “But again, you asked me, which is why I just justified it to you. But otherwise, the audience has the right to interpret it the way they want to, and it’s my right to let the audience interpret the scene the way they want to. I hope I won’t have to justify, but maybe that’s where constructive criticism will come from and I’ll be able to improve my work in the future,” the ‘Malaal’ actor responded.

‘Heeramandi’ has been renewed for a second season. The first season featured actors like Manisha Koirala, Aditi Rao Hydari, Richa Chadha, Sanjeeda Sheikh, Sonakshi Sinha, Taha Shah and Fardeen Khan in pivotal roles.